When you think about Hawaii, you see white sandy beaches, cocktails, the ocean, and even a luau or two. What you don’t think of is 40 million mosquitoes buzzing through the island is the most annoying way. While this sounds like one of the worst things that can happen to this beautiful island, there’s a good reason behind it.
The release of these annoying critters is a last-ditch attempt to save Hawaii’s iconic honeycreepers. These colorful native birds are now teetering on the brink of extinction due to avian malaria, a deadly disease spread by invasive mosquitoes.
The Crisis At Hand
Hawaii is home to some of the most beautiful birds with colorful feathers to show off, but in recent years, they have met their maker due to the spreading of avian malaria. This disease was introduced by mosquitoes to the island in the 1800s, with no natural immunity due to their evolution in isolation. Honeycreepers are exceptionally vulnerable; even a single bite from an infected mosquito can be fatal.
As climate change drives temperatures higher, mosquitoes can now survive at elevations that were once safe havens for these birds, leaving little to no refuge.
Why Mosquitoes Were Released
These genetically modified mosquitoes were released in response to a dire conservation crisis, the rapid decline of native bird species, especially the honeycreepers, due to avian malaria. Mosquitoes, which weren’t native to Hawaii, were introduced in the 1800s and have become prolific carriers of this deadly disease, decimating bird populations with no natural resistance.
The ultimate goal is to protect the remaining honeycreeper species from extinction and restore balance to Hawaii’s unique ecosystem, which does not rely on mosquitoes as a critical food source or pollinator.
The Science Behind the Solution
This whole process relies on the success of the bacterium Wolbachia and a method called the Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT). Wolbachia is a naturally occurring bacterium that is introduced into lab-reared male mosquitoes to exploit a reproductive phenomenon called cytoplasmic incompatibility. These modified males mate with wild females, causing their eggs not to develop due to genetic incompatibility.
Only male mosquitoes are released, and since they do not bite, there is no risk of increased disease transmission to humans or animals, and the mosquito population slowly dies out. “It is a tried and true and safe technique that has been used hundreds of times,” said Dr. Lisa ‘Cali’ Crampton, the head of KFBRP.
Are These Mosquitoes Genetically Modified?
Contrary to what people might believe, the mosquitoes released in Hawaii are not genetically modified organisms (GMOs). As explicitly stated by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, this approach “does not involve the use of any genetically modified or engineered organisms.” Instead, it relies on cytoplasmic incompatibility, a reproductive disruption caused by pairing mosquitoes with different Wolbachia strains to suppress populations.
“It’s disappointing that some people are misinforming others by saying this is using GMOs or GEs. These are not genetically modified or engineered organisms. The proposed technique does not modify the genes of mosquitoes or Wolbachia. It is similar process to taking anti-biotics, then eating pro-biotics, to replace the existing community of bacteria with a different community within your stomach.” said Suzanne Case, DLNR Chair.
How the Mosquitoes Are Released
This doesn’t sound like a small feat, but researchers have given their all since 2023. Since late 2023, helicopters have been the primary delivery system to ensure that their 40 million lab-reared male mosquitoes find their spot in the environment. Still, more recently, drones have been introduced to access rugged, inaccessible terrain.
These drones carry biodegradable pods, each carrying approximately 1,000 temperature-controlled mosquitoes that can be dropped into hard-to-reach areas. While helicopters deploy larger quantities per flight (up to 250,000 mosquitoes), drones handle smaller batches (around 23,000 per mission) but are much safer to use and can easily navigate challenging areas.
The Role of “Birds, Not Mosquitoes”
In the driver’s seat of this conservation effort is “Birds, Not Mosquitoes.” This is a collaborative alliance of federal and state agencies, conservation nonprofits, and scientific institutions, including the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and groups like the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project and Pacific Rim Conservation.
This unified force was created to address the avian malaria crisis that has been wiping out birds across the island. The coalition prioritizes transparency and community engagement, hosting public meetings, publishing educational materials, and addressing concerns about genetic modification head-on.
Why Not Just Use Pesticides?
While this might sound less complicated, it’s not a viable solution for controlling mosquitoes in Hawaii’s remote forests. Pesticides are costly, labor-intensive, and often non-specific, meaning they can harm a wide range of non-target insects and wildlife, including pollinators and beneficial species essential to the ecosystem.
Mosquitoes can also quickly develop resistance to pesticides, rendering chemical control increasingly ineffective over time. This makes this approach relatively pointless in the first place, as it’s not sustainable.
Addressing Public Concerns
Some community members have voiced worries about potential unintended consequences, such as impacts on human health, local wildlife, and the broader ecosystem, and have called for comprehensive environmental impact studies before proceeding. State agencies and conservation groups have emphasized that the approach uses only non-biting male mosquitoes infected with naturally occurring Wolbachia bacteria and that the project has undergone multiple rounds of expert review and public testimony.
“This is a victory for our endangered forest birds who some native Hawaiians consider their ancestors,” Dawn Chang, chair of the state’s Board of Land and Natural Resources said in a statement. “The HEPA is an important tool that enables decision-makers to assess environmental impacts — not the sword by which misinformation kills a project aimed at saving native species.”
The Road Ahead
With more than half of Hawaii’s endemic bird species already lost to extinction and climate change accelerating the spread of avian malaria, the stakes could not be higher. This project represents a last-ditch, science-driven effort to save the islands’ remaining honeycreepers and preserve their unique ecological and cultural legacy.
Success here could set a precedent for innovative, targeted biological control methods in conservation worldwide, offering hope for other regions grappling with invasive species and disease threats exacerbated by a warming planet.
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